47 C.F.R. § 20.19 – Hearing loss compatible wireless handsets.

Link to an amendment published at 89 FR 89866, Nov. 13, 2024.

Link to an amendment published at 89 FR 89868, Nov. 13, 2024.

(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section:
2007 ANSI standard refers to the technical standard for hearing aid compatibility applicable to frequencies between 800 MHz and 3 GHz as set forth in ANSI C63.19-2007.
2011 ANSI standard refers to the technical standard for hearing aid compatibility applicable to frequencies between 698 MHz and 6 GHz as set forth in ANSI C63.19-2011.
2019 ANSI standard refers to the technical standard for hearing aid compatibility applicable to frequencies between 614 MHz and 6 GHz as set forth in ANSI C63.19-2019.
Acoustic coupling refers to a type of hearing aid compatibility where handset models couple with hearing aids through the use of the hearing aid's microphone that amplifies sound and the handsets meet standards for controlling radiofrequency (RF) interference between the handsets and hearing aids.
ANSI standard refers to the 2007, 2011, and 2019 ANSI standards as a group.
Any version of the ANSI standard previous to the 2019 ANSI standard refers to the 2007 and 2011 ANSI standards.
Bluetooth coupling refers to a type of hearing aid compatibility where handset models couple with hearing aids using short range wireless technology that relies on internal chipsets and antennas within the handset model.
Digital labeling technology refers to Quick-Response (QR) codes and related website addresses that link to additional online information about a handset model's hearing aid compatibility.
Digital mobile service refers to a terrestrial mobile service that enables two-way real-time voice communications among members of the public or a substantial portion of the public, including both interconnected and non-interconnected voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services, to the extent that such service is provided over frequencies specified in the 2007 ANSI standard, 2011 ANSI standard, or the 2019 ANSI standard.
Handset refers to a device used in delivery of digital mobile service in the United States that contains a built-in speaker and is typically held to the ear in any of its ordinary uses.
Handset manufacturer refers to a manufacturer of handset models that are used in delivery of digital mobile service, as defined in this section, in the United States.
Handset model portfolio refers to all of the handset models that a handset manufacturer or service provider offers for sale or use in the United States.
Hearing aid refers to hearing aids and cochlear implants.
Hearing aid-compatible refers to a handset model that:
1. (i) Has an internal means for compatibility, as defined in this section;
2. (ii) Meets established technical standards for hearing aid coupling or compatibility, as defined in this section; and
3. (iii) Is usable, as defined in this section.
Model refers to a wireless handset that a handset manufacturer has designated as a distinct handset model, consistent with its own marketing practices. However, if a handset manufacturer assigns different model number designations solely to distinguish handset models sold to different service providers, or to signify other distinctions that do not relate to either form, features, or capabilities, such model number designations shall not count as distinct handset models for purposes of this section.
Nationwide service provider refers to a provider of commercial mobile radio service, as defined in this section, that offers such service nationwide.
Non-nationwide service provider refers to a provider of commercial mobile radio service, as defined in this section, that does not offer such service on a nationwide basis.
Publicly accessible website refers to a consumer facing website that handset manufacturers and service providers maintain and that consumers can locate through a website search.
Service provider refers to a provider of digital mobile service, as defined in this section, in the United States.
Telecoil coupling refers to a type of hearing aid compatibility where handset models couple with hearing aids through the use of telecoils. This form of compatibility can be referred to as inductive coupling.
Volume control requirements refers to the technical standard established by ANSI/TIA-5050-2018.
(b) Hearing aid compatibility; technical standards—(1) Handset model compatibility before December 14, 2026. A handset model submitted for equipment certification or for a permissive change relating to hearing aid compatibility must meet the certification requirements of the 2019 ANSI standard, including applicable volume control requirements.
(2) Handset model compatibility on or after December 14, 2026. A handset model submitted for equipment certification or for a permissive change relating to hearing aid compatibility must meet:
1. (i) The 2019 ANSI standard's acoustic coupling requirements;
2. (ii) The 2019 ANSI standard's volume control requirements; and
3. (iii) Either the 2019 ANSI standard's telecoil coupling requirements or have Bluetooth coupling technology as a replacement for or in addition to meeting the standard's telecoil coupling requirements.
4. (iv) All such new handset models must come out-of-the-box with their hearing aid compatibility related acoustic and volume control functions turned on by default. Such handset models may also have secondary settings to turn on the handset model's telecoil or Bluetooth coupling functions, depending on the secondary capability included in a particular handset model. All such handset models must have settings for acoustic, telecoil, or Bluetooth coupling (depending on the coupling functionality included) and volume control functionality that are clearly labeled and allow consumers to easily find these settings and to turn these functions on or off as they desire.
(3) Bluetooth coupling requirements.
1. (i) Between December 14, 2026, and December 12, 2028, the Bluetooth coupling requirement may be met using either proprietary or non-proprietary Bluetooth coupling technology.
2. (ii) Beginning on December 12, 2028, the Bluetooth coupling requirement may only be met using Bluetooth coupling technology that:
  1. (A) Utilizes a global, low power wireless technology standard for high quality audio voice streaming;
  2. (B) Is a standalone non-proprietary implementation;
  3. (C) Is a qualified implementation that has undergone testing to verify that the product conforms to the specifications it claims to support;
  4. (D) Offers full interoperability between hearing aids and handset models to enable inter-network, inter-provider, inter-platform, and inter-handset manufacturer functionality; and
  5. (E) Uses a design that meets broad, generic hearing aid requirements that addresses needed features when coupling to handset models for all forms of voice calls and associated handset model use.
(4) Handset models operating over multiple frequency bands or air interfaces.
1. (i) Between December 12, 2024, and December 14, 2026, a handset model is hearing aid-compatible if it meets the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section for all frequency bands that are specified in the 2019 ANSI standard and all air interfaces over which it operates on those frequency bands, and the handset model has been certified as compliant with the test requirements for the 2019 ANSI standard pursuant to § 2.1033(d) of this chapter.
2. (ii) Beginning on December 14, 2026, a handset model is hearing aid-compatible if it meets the requirements of paragraph (b)(2) of this section for all frequency bands that are specified in the 2019 ANSI standard and all air interfaces over which it operates on those frequency bands, and:
  1. (A) The handset model has been certified as compliant with the test requirements for the 2019 ANSI standard (including the telecoil requirements) pursuant to § 2.1033(d) of this chapter; or
  2. (B) The handset model has been certified as compliant with the test requirements for the 2019 ANSI standard (except for the telecoil requirements) pursuant to § 2.1033(d) of this chapter and meets the Bluetooth coupling requirements of this paragraph (b) and paragraph (c) of this section.
(5) Non-hearing aid-compatible handset models. Beginning on December 14, 2026, any non-hearing aid-compatible handset models cannot obtain a certification under part 2, subpart J, of this chapter.
(6) Software updates.
1. (i) Handset models certified as hearing aid-compatible may not be modified through a software push that results in the handset model no longer meeting hearing aid compatibility certification standards. In addition, a handset model's conversational gain may not be lowered through a software push, unless the impact on the conversational gain of a handset model is de minimis. The Commission delegates to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, in coordination with the Office of Engineering and Technology, authority to define the scope of the de minimis exception, as needed.
2. (ii) Consumers must be notified prior to installing a software push if the software push will install new operations or bands that are not covered by the applicable hearing aid compatibility certification standards and, therefore, these new operations or bands will not meet hearing aid compatibility certification requirements.
(7) Factual questions. All factual questions of whether a handset meets the technical standard(s) of this paragraph (b) shall be referred for resolution to the Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
(8) Grandfathered handset model. A handset model certified under any version of Commission authorized technical standards prior to December 13, 2024, may continue to be offered for sale or use, as long as the Commission permits the handset model to continue to be offered for sale or use.
(c) Phase-in of hearing aid-compatibility requirements. The following applies to each handset manufacturer and service provider that offers handset models for sale or use in the United States that are used to deliver digital mobile services as specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
(1) Handset manufacturers—Number of hearing aid-compatible handset models offered for sale or use in the United States prior to December 14, 2026. At least eight-five (85) percent of those handset models (rounded down to the nearest whole number) must be hearing aid-compatible as defined under paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(2) Handset manufacturers—Number of hearing aid-compatible handset models offered for sale or use in the United States after December 14, 2026. All handset models shall meet the following hearing aid compatibility requirements:
1. (i) One hundred (100) percent of these handset models must meet the 2019 ANSI standard's acoustic coupling requirements or have been certified as meeting the M3 acoustic rating under a previous ANSI standard;
2. (ii) At least eighty-five (85) percent of those handset models (rounded down to the nearest whole number) must meet the 2019 ANSI standard's telecoil coupling requirements or have been certified as meeting the T3 telecoil rating under a previous ANSI standard;
3. (iii) At least fifteen (15) percent of those handset models (rounded up to the nearest whole number) must have Bluetooth coupling technology consistent with paragraphs (a) and (b)(3) of this section as a replacement for or in addition to meeting the 2019 ANSI standard's telecoil coupling requirements or the T3 telecoil rating under a previous ANSI standards;
4. (iv) One hundred (100) percent of these handset models must meet at least two forms of coupling. Specifically, all handsets must:
  1. (A) Meet the acoustic coupling requirement, as specified in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, and meet the telecoil requirement, as specified in paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section; or
  2. (B) Meet the acoustic coupling requirement, as specified in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, and have Bluetooth coupling technology, as specified in paragraph (c)(2)(iii) of this section; and
5. (v) All new handset models that a handset manufacturer adds to its handset model portfolio must meet the 2019 ANSI Standard's volume control requirements.
(3) Nationwide service providers—Number of hearing aid-compatible handsets models offered prior to June 14, 2027. At least eight-five (85) percent of those handset models (rounded down to the nearest whole number) must be hearing aid-compatible as defined under paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(4) Nationwide service providers—Number of hearing aid-compatible handset models offered after June 14, 2027. All handset models that nationwide service providers offer and add to their handset model portfolios must meet the same requirements that handset manufacturer handset models must meet as set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
(5) Non-nationwide service providers—Number of hearing aid-compatible handsets models offered prior to June 12, 2028. At least eight-five (85) percent of those handset models (rounded down to the nearest whole number) must be hearing aid-compatible as defined under paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(6) Non-nationwide service providers—Number of hearing aid-compatible handset models offered after June 12, 2028. All handset models that non-nationwide service providers offer and add to their handset model portfolios must meet the same requirements that handset manufacturer handset models must meet as set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
(7) Availability and in-store testing of hearing aid-compatible handset models. All handset manufacturers and service providers must make their best efforts to make available all hearing aid-compatible handset models that they offer for sale or use to consumers to test, in each retail store owned or operated by the handset manufacturer or service provider. If a handset model is not available in-store for testing, handset manufacturers and service providers must make their best efforts to make the handset model available to the consumer for testing within 48 hours by shipping the handset model either to the store or to the consumer's home. Further, handset manufacturers and service providers must make their best efforts to ensure that all of the hearing aid-compatible handset models that they offer for sale or use will be in the hands of consumers within 48 hours of the consumer ordering the hearing aid-compatible handset model.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) De minimis exception.
1. (1)
  1. (i) Manufacturers or service providers that offer two or fewer handsets in an air interface in the United States are exempt from the requirements of this section in connection with that air interface, except with regard to the reporting and certification requirements in paragraph (i) of this section. Service providers that obtain handsets only from manufacturers that offer two or fewer handset models in an air interface in the United States are likewise exempt from the requirements of this section other than paragraph (i) of this section in connection with that air interface.
  2. (ii) Notwithstanding paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section, manufacturers that have had more than 750 employees for at least two years and service providers that have had more than 1500 employees for at least two years, and that have been offering handsets over an air interface for at least two years, that offer one or two handsets in that air interface in the United States must offer at least one handset model that is hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section in that air interface. Service providers that obtain handsets only from manufacturers that offer one or two handset models in an air interface in the United States, and that have had more than 750 employees for at least two years and have offered handsets over that air interface for at least two years, are required to offer at least one handset model in that air interface that is hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section. For purposes of this paragraph (e)(1)(ii), employees of a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate company under common ownership or control with a manufacturer or service provider are considered employees of the manufacturer or service provider. Manufacturers and service providers covered by this paragraph (e)(1)(ii) must also comply with all other requirements of this section.
2. (2) Manufacturers or service providers that offer three handset models in an air interface must offer at least one handset model that is hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section in that air interface. Service providers that obtain handsets only from manufacturers that offer three handset models in an air interface in the United States are required to offer at least one handset model in that air interface that is hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section.
3. (3) Manufacturers that offer four or five handset models in an air interface must offer at least two handset models that are hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section in that air interface. Tier I carriers who offer four handset models in an air interface must offer at least two handsets that are hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section in that air interface and Tier I carriers who offer five handset models in an air interface must offer at least three handsets that are hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section in that air interface. Service providers, other than Tier I carriers, who offer four handset models in an air interface must offer at least two handset models that are hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section in that air interface and service providers, other than Tier I carriers, who offer five handset models in an air interface must offer at least three handsets that are hearing aid-compatible under paragraph (b) of this section in that air interface.
4. (4) Beginning December 14, 2026, handset manufacturers may no longer claim de minimis status under the terms of this section. Beginning June 14, 2027, nationwide service providers may no longer claim de minimis status under the terms of this section. Beginning June 12, 2028, non-nationwide service providers may no longer claim de minimis status under the terms of this section.
(f) Labeling and disclosure requirements for hearing aid-compatible handsets—(1) Package label. For all handset models certified to be hearing aid-compatible, manufacturers and service providers shall ensure that the handset's package label states that the handset is hearing aid-compatible and the handset's actual conversational gain with and without a hearing aid if certified using a technical standard with volume control requirements. The actual conversational gain displayed for use with a hearing aid shall be the lowest rating assigned to the handset for any covered air interface or frequency band.
(2) Package insert or handset manual. For all handset models certified to be hearing aid-compatible, manufacturers and service providers shall disclose to consumers through the use of a package insert or in the handset's user manual:
1. (i) That the handset is hearing aid-compatible;
2. (ii) The ANSI standard used to determine the hearing aid compatibility of the handset model's air interfaces and frequency bands;
3. (iii) If using the 2011 ANSI standard or an earlier version of the standard, the lowest hearing aid compatibility rating assigned to any of the covered air interfaces or frequency bands;
4. (iv) The air interfaces or frequency bands on the handset that are not certified to be hearing aid-compatible, if applicable, or have been determined to be hearing aid-compatible under special testing circumstances;
5. (v) Any handset model certified to be hearing aid-compatible for some but not all of the air interfaces or frequency bands covered by the model must include the following disclosure language:
  This phone has been tested and certified for use with hearing aids for some of the wireless technologies that it uses. However, there may be some newer wireless technologies used in this phone that have not been tested yet for use with hearing aids. It is important to try the different features of this phone thoroughly and in different locations, using your hearing aid or cochlear implant, to determine if you hear any interfering noise. Consult your service provider or the manufacturer of this phone for information on hearing aid compatibility. If you have questions about return or exchange policies, consult your service provider or phone retailer.
6. (vi) An explanation of the ANSI rating system, which includes an explanation that the 2019 ANSI standard does not use the rating system that older versions of the standard used;
7. (vii) An explanation of a handset model's volume control capabilities, including its conversational gain both with and without hearing aids, if the handset is certified using a technical standard that includes volume control requirements; and
8. (viii) An explanation of special testing circumstances, if a handset model has air interfaces that have been certified as hearing aid-compatible under such circumstances, and how these circumstances affect the use and operation of the handset.
9. (g) Handset model number designation requirements. Where a handset manufacturer or service provider makes a physical change to a handset model, the handset model must be given a model number designation distinct from that of the handset model prior to its alteration. A physical change to a handset model is defined as changes to the handset model's hardware or software that causes a variation in the form, features, or capabilities of the handset model as compared to the handset model prior to these alterations.
  1. (1) Handset models recertified as hearing aid-compatible under updated certification standards are not required to be assigned a new model number designation unless the handset model has been physically changed, as defined in this paragraph (g), to meet the requirements of the updated certification standard. Handset models being recertified as hearing aid-compatible under updated certification standards must meet all aspects of the updated certification standard. Handset models being recertified as hearing aid-compatible may not be recertified as hearing aid-compatible using parts of two different ANSI standards or distinct certification standards.
  2. (2) Handset manufacturers may assign new handset model number designations to handset models recertified as hearing aid-compatible under updated certification standards that have not undergone any physical changes, as defined in this paragraph (g), if the handset manufacturer chooses to for its own reasons. Under these circumstances, handset manufacturers and service providers shall not count the handset model more than once for purposes of meeting handset model deployment benchmark requirements regardless of the number of handset model number designations that the handset model has been assigned.
  3. (3) Handset models recertified as hearing aid-compatible under updated certification standards must have the labeling, disclosure, and website posting information related to the handset model updated within 30 days of the updated certification. These updates must indicate that the handset model has been recertified under updated certification standards and explain how this updated certification affects the handset model's operations. These updates must be made regardless of whether the handset model was physically altered to meet the requirements of the updated certification standard.
10. (h) Website and record retention requirements.
  1. (1) Each manufacturer and service provider that operates a publicly-accessible website must make available on its website a list of all hearing aid-compatible models currently offered, the ANSI standard used to evaluate hearing aid compatibility, the ratings of those models under the relevant ANSI standard, if applicable, and an explanation of the rating system. Each service provider must also include on its website: A list of all non-hearing aid-compatible models currently offered, as well as a link to the current FCC web page containing information about the wireless hearing aid compatibility rules and service providers' obligations. Each service provider must also include the marketing model name/number(s) and FCC ID number of each hearing aid-compatible and non-hearing aid-compatible model currently offered.
  2. (2) Service providers must maintain on their website either:
11. (i) A link to a third-party website as designated by the Commission or Wireless Telecommunications Bureau with information regarding hearing aid-compatible and non-hearing aid-compatible handset models; or
12. (ii) A clearly marked list of hearing aid-compatible handset models that are no longer offered if the calendar month/year that model was last offered is within 24 months of the current calendar month/year along with the information listed in paragraph (h)(1) of this section for each hearing aid-compatible handset.
(3) If the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau determines that the third-party website has been eliminated or is not updated in a timely manner, it may select another website or require service providers to comply with paragraph (h)(2)(ii) of this section.
(4) The information on the website must be updated within 30 days of any relevant changes, and any website pages containing information so updated must indicate the day on which the update occurred.
(5) Service providers must maintain internal records including the ratings, if applicable, of all hearing aid-compatible and non-hearing aid-compatible models no longer offered (if the calendar month/year that model was last offered is within 24 months of the current calendar month/year); for models no longer offered (if the calendar month/year that model was last offered is within 24 months of the current calendar month/year), the calendar months and years each hearing aid-compatible and non-hearing aid-compatible model was first and last offered; and the marketing model name/number(s) and FCC ID number of each hearing aid-compatible and non-hearing aid-compatible model no longer offered (if the calendar month/year that model was last offered is within 24 months of the current calendar month/year).
1. (i) Reporting requirements—(1) Reporting and certification dates. Service providers shall submit Form 855 certifications on their compliance with the requirements of this section by January 31 of each year. Manufacturers shall submit Form 655 reports on their compliance with the requirements of this section by July 31 of each year. Information in each certification and report must be up-to-date as of the last day of the calendar month preceding the due date of each certification and report.
2. (2) Content of service provider certifications. Certifications filed by service providers must include:
  1. (i) The name of the signing executive and contact information;
  2. (ii) The company(ies) covered by the certification;
  3. (iii) The FCC Registration Number (FRN);
  4. (iv) If the service provider is subject to paragraph (h) of this section, the website address of the page(s) containing the required information regarding handset models;
  5. (v) The percentage of handsets offered that are hearing aid-compatible (providers will derive this percentage by determining the number of hearing aid-compatible handsets offered across all air interfaces during the year divided by the total number of handsets offered during the year); and
  6. (vi) The following language:
    I am a knowledgeable executive [of company x] regarding compliance with the Federal Communications Commission's wireless hearing aid compatibility requirements at a wireless service provider covered by those requirements. I certify that the provider was [(in full compliance/not in full compliance)] [choose one] at all times during the applicable time period with the Commission's wireless hearing aid compatibility deployment benchmarks and all other relevant wireless hearing aid compatibility requirements. The company represents and warrants, and I certify by this declaration under penalty of perjury pursuant to 47 CFR 1.16 that the above certification is consistent with 47 CFR 1.17, which requires truthful and accurate statements to the Commission. The company also acknowledges that false statements and misrepresentations to the Commission are punishable under Title 18 of the U.S. Code and may subject it to enforcement action pursuant to Sections 501 and 503 of the Act.
  7. (vii) If the company selected that it was not in full compliance with this section, an explanation of which wireless hearing aid compatibility requirements it was not in compliance with, when the non-compliance began and (if applicable) ended with respect to each requirement.
3. (3) Content of manufacturer reports. Reports filed by manufacturers must include:
  1. (i) Handset models tested, since the most recent report, for compliance with the applicable hearing aid compatibility technical ratings, if applicable;
  2. (ii) Compliant handset models offered to service providers since the most recent report, identifying each model by marketing model name/number(s) and FCC ID number;
  3. (iii) For each compliant model, the air interface(s) and frequency band(s) over which it operates, the hearing aid compatibility ratings for each frequency band and air interface under the ANSI standard (if applicable), the ANSI standard version used, and the months in which the model was available to service providers since the most recent report;
  4. (iv) Non-compliant models offered to service providers since the most recent report, identifying each model by marketing model name/number(s) and FCC ID number;
  5. (v) For each non-compliant model, the air interface(s) over which it operates and the months in which the model was available to service providers since the most recent report;
  6. (vi) Total numbers of compliant and non-compliant models offered to service providers for each air interface as of the time of the report;
  7. (vii) Any instance, as of the date of the report or since the most recent report, in which multiple compliant or non-compliant devices were marketed under separate model name/numbers but constitute a single model for purposes of the hearing aid compatibility rules, identifying each device by marketing model name/number and FCC ID number;
  8. (viii) Status of product labeling;
  9. (ix) Outreach efforts; and
  10. (x) If the manufacturer maintains a public website, the website address of the page(s) containing the information regarding hearing aid-compatible handset models required by paragraph (h) of this section.
4. (4) Form and content requirements. The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is delegated authority to approve or prescribe forms, formats, and methods for submission of the reports and certifications in addition to or instead of those required by this section. Further, the Bureau is delegated authority to revise the information that these reports and certifications collect as long as these revisions are consistent with the rules in this section and do not impose additional obligations beyond providing the information that these reports and certifications collect. Any format or content changes the Bureau adopts will be made available on the Bureau's website.
5. (j) Enforcement. Enforcement of this section is hereby delegated to those states that adopt this section and provide for enforcement. The procedures followed by a state to enforce this section shall provide a 30-day period after a complaint is filed, during which time state personnel shall attempt to resolve a dispute on an informal basis. If a state has not adopted or incorporated this section, or failed to act within six (6) months from the filing of a complaint with the state public utility commission, the Commission will accept such complaints. A written notification to the complainant that the state believes action is unwarranted is not a failure to act. The procedures set forth in part 68, subpart E of this chapter are to be followed.
6. (k) Delegation of rulemaking authority.
  1. (1) The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology are delegated authority to issue, consistent with any applicable requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553, an order amending this section to the extent necessary to adopt technical standards for additional frequency bands and/or air interfaces upon the establishment of such standards by ANSI Accredited Standards Committee C63®, provided that the standards do not impose with respect to such frequency bands or air interfaces materially greater obligations than those imposed on other services subject to this section. Any new obligations on manufacturers and Tier I carriers pursuant to paragraphs (c) through (i) of this section as a result of such standards shall become effective no less than one year after release of the order adopting such standards and any new obligations on other service providers shall become effective no less than 15 months after the release of such order, except that any new obligations on manufacturers and service providers subject to paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section shall become effective no less than two years after the release of such order.
  2. (2) The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology are delegated authority, by notice-and-comment rulemaking if required by statute or otherwise in the public interest, to issue an order amending this section to the extent necessary to approve any version of the technical standards for radio frequency interference, inductive coupling, or volume control adopted subsequently to the 2007 ANSI standard for use in determining whether a wireless handset meets the appropriate rating over frequency bands and air interfaces for which technical standards have previously been adopted either by the Commission or pursuant to paragraph (k)(1) of this section. This delegation is limited to the approval of changes to the technical standards that do not raise major compliance issues. Further, by such approvals, the Chiefs may only permit, and not require, the use of such subsequent versions of the technical standards to establish hearing aid compatibility.
7. (l) Incorporation by reference. The standards required in this section are incorporated by reference into this section with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. All approved incorporation by reference (IBR) material is available for inspection at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Contact the FCC through the Federal Communications Commission's Reference Information Center, phone: (202) 418-0270. For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. The material may be obtained from the following sources in this paragraph (l):
  1. (1) IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA), 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854-4141, (732) 981-0060, stds-info@ieee.org, https://standards.ieee.org/.
    1. (i) ANSI C63.19-2007, American National Standard Methods of Measurement of Compatibility Between Wireless Communication Devices and Hearing Aids, approved June 8, 2007.
    2. (ii) ANSI C63.19-2011, American National Standard Methods of Measurement of Compatibility Between Wireless Communication Devices and Hearing Aids, approved May 27, 2011.
    3. (iii) ANSI C63.19-2019, American National Standard Methods of Measurement of Compatibility Between Wireless Communication Devices and Hearing Aids, approved August 19, 2019.
  2. (2) Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), 1320 North Courthouse Road, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22201, (703) 907-7700, global@ihs.com, https://global.ihs.com/csf_home.cfm?&csf=TIA.
    1. (i) ANSI/TIA-5050-2018, Telecommunications—Communications Products—Receive Volume Control Requirements for Wireless (Mobile) Devices, approved January 17, 2018.
    2. (ii) [Reserved]

[73 FR 25587, May 7, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 54522, Sept. 8, 2010; 77 FR 41928, July 17, 2012; 81 FR 183, Jan. 5, 2016; 81 FR 60633, Sept. 2, 2016; 83 FR 8631, Feb. 28, 2018; 83 FR 63105, Dec. 7, 2018; 84 FR 37592, Aug. 1, 2019; 86 FR 23625, 23627, May 4, 2021; 88 FR 21439, Apr. 10, 2023; 89 FR 89864, Nov. 13, 2024]